CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES PRIORITIZED

MEMBERS of the majority for the nth time again used their numerical advantage to thumb down a proposal of the minority seeking to include in the agenda the proposed Supplemental Budget No. 1 and Supplemental Annual Investment Program for 2022, after the latter noted that two of the eight resolutions up for discussion in their regular session last Tuesday are mere congratulatory resolutions complimentary to two majority members.

Reacting to the result of the nominal voting, 5 in favor and 7 against, Councilor Marcelino Fernandez said the continued blocking of the two measures will cause more suffering not only to the city’s scholars but to all Dagupeños needing basic social and economic services.

He cited the Super Family Health Center that will be built in Barangay Bolosan, a project allotted P16 million by the Department of Health that needs a counterpart fund to develop the land reserved by the Dagupan City government. It cannot proceed with the construction without the passage of the Supplemental Budget and the Supplemental Annual Investment Program.

Fernandez said the construction of the center that will benefit the poor people in eastern barangays with the approval of the two supplemental budgets are far more important than the congratulatory resolutions for Councilors Redford Erfe-Mejia and Alvin Coquia for their elections as secretary general and board member of the regional council of the League of Councilors of the Philippines, approved based on the omnibus motion of Councilor Librada Macalanda, seconded by Councilor Celia Lim.

Councilor Joshua Bugayong, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, reiterated the minority’s appeal to allow the two measures be discussed in the plenary and to pass the same.

He said if the additional outlay for the scholarship program included in Supplemental Budget No. 1, is not approved soon, the scholars will be forced to quit their studies.

Councilor Dennis Canto, said 31 barangays are awaiting help from the Sanggunian citing in particular the inability of the City Health Office to provide medicines and medical services badly needed in the barangays.

Councilor Jeslito Seen said all the documents relative to the two supplemental budgets already in the hands of the majority, and, therefore, have no reason not to pass the two measures.

Seen said the numerous projects from the national government cannot be implemented without the approval of the Supplemental Annual Investment Program, that includes a school building for the Bacayao Sur Elementary School and a project to boost tourism at the Tondaligan Ferdinand Park.

Minority leader Councilor Michael Fernandez slammed the majority for holding the committee hearings after every session on Tuesday, not before the session as usually being done by legislative bodies, and several hearings of which were already held.

Councilor Alvin Coquia said the two measures mentioned by Councilor Fernandez are still undergoing committee hearing because Mayor Fernandez increased the number of scholars to 5,000 knowing there was only P102 million allotted in the 2022 budget.

Councilor Fernandez countered that Ordinance No. 2246-2022 that superseded the previous scholarship ordinance, specifically provides P200 million funding. (Leonardo Micua)

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